President Obama takes on a heckler in Israel

[brooklynite]

[madamesilverspurs]

1. He handled it well.

Curious, though: anyone know what the heckler was saying? I couldn't make it out...

[Cha]

4. This..

The president said, “I see the same spirit in the young people here today. And given the ties between our countries, I believe your future is bound to ours.” He was then interrupted by a heckler, who according to press reports was protesting the imprisonment of Jonathan Pollard. (The American who was convicted of spying for Israel in 1997.)

http://www.politicususa.com/obama-turns-heckled-jerusalem-standing-ovation.html

[madamesilverspurs]

5. Thanks!

[VOX]

12. Thanks for this! n/t

[Mosby]

14. The heckler was an Arab-Israeli complaining that the speech was too "zionist"

http://www.timesofisrael.com/from-obama-an-embrace-and-a-push-in-jerusalem-speech/

[obama2terms]

20. From what I have read about it

It seems to be someone who thinks Pres.Obama is too pro-Israel.

[Nika]

2. He deserved that standing ovation for handling that guy so well.

[LiberalLovinLug]

15. He handled him well?

While I applaud his ability to deflect the question and turn it into a joke, he never did address the question. Maybe he did as the video was cut short. But if not, I can't applaud that kind of politician double speak. He did the same thing with the question about marijuana laws during his first election run. Making a joke out of the question, instead of answering it. He's a master at it. I don't know much about that case the heckler wanted addressed, but Obama could have at least said something about the fact that he had nothing to do with the verdict and it was simply what the evidence had determined, and that the US like Israel, is a nation of laws, or some such a response couldn't he?

[Mosby]

18. FYI - the guy heckled in hebrew

President Obama does not speak hebrew afaik.

And just to reiterate, the press pool report was wrong, the guy was not asking about pollard.

[Grins]

19. Why does he have to address it?

If a speaker is lecturing on mathmatics, why is he obligated to address a question on Harvard beating New Mexico? The proper response is scorn.

[obama2terms]

21. I hate to burst your bubble

But the heckler was speaking in Hebrew, and Obama does not speak Hebrew.

[George II]

22. He had no obligation to address a heckler, nor should he have done so in that setting....

....there were several hundred people there, and was addressing them. That wasn't a free forum or town hall meeting.

I CAN applaud his handling of the situation, he handled it perfectly. If he lowered himself to directly address whatever the heckler asked or said, the entire event would have turned into a free for all.

[RoccoR5955]

3. Handled like the pro that he is.

He sure does know how to handle a crowd!

[siligut]

6. He also got in a little dig on the repugs

Saying having a heckler made him feel at home.

He garners respect from the rest of the world because of his resistance to the idiots here at home.

[KansDem]

16. Yeah, now we know where Joe Wilson is...nt

[Zeteticus]

7. I love the look he gets in his eyes...

like in the above photo that screams, "I can take whatever you can dish".

[siligut]

17. I agree and he can back that look

He has shown us that he has resolve and fortitude.

[mountain grammy]

8. Wow, I kind of choked up there when most of the audience stood.. imagine Mittens there,

he would of had the guy arrested.

[YOHABLO]

9. Yes, he is masterful at handling a crowd and especially hecklers.

[narnian60]

10. I love that he looked like he actually

wanted to see the person and hear what he was saying.

[oldandhappy]

11. Saw this clip

We have a great president. He is really smart and human.

[VOX]

13. Cool, cool, cool...

It's a gift, and he's got cool to spare.

[geckosfeet]

23. The president is soooo much at ease with people. Even the meanies.